The fight for love
Ku Tinggalkan Cinta Di Okinawa combines romance and karate.
“SELAMAT pagi sayang,” says Japanese actor Shogen with disarming charm when asked if he remembered a word or two of Bahasa Malaysia after his stint on a local drama.
Yes, you read that right. Shogen completed production for the Malay- language series, Ku Tinggalkan Cinta Di Okinawa, in January.
The 37- year- old actor who is in town to promote the series explains he spoke mostly in English for the role: “I’m supposed to be half Japanese and half Malay. My character understands Malay but can’t speak that much.”
Directed by Amor Rizan, the 26- episode series chronicles the life of karate student Alisa ( Hanis Zalikha) who develops an interest in the martial arts after learning that her biological mother, whom she has never met, was once a karate champion.
Alisa is raised by her father and is told very little about her mother. But this changes as her family secrets begin to surface when she stumbles upon the timid Rykal ( Sharnaaz Ahmad).
Later, Alisa travels to Okinawa, Japan ( where half of the series was shot) to further her karate training. There, she meets and falls for her coach Shun ( Shogen), putting her at odds with fellow karate student Riana ( Mimi Lana) who also harbours feelings for him.
The model- turned- actor who starred in last year’s British web series Street Fighter: Assassin’s Fist talks about tapping into his romantic side.
“I wouldn’t call myself a romantic but maybe I’m a more sensitive person. A sensitive person recognises the tiny stuff which could be romantic.”
Ku Tinggalkan Cinta Di Okinawa offers more than just the novelty of having a foreign talent like Shogen on board.
Director Amor believes she is bringing something new to the current stable of local dramas.
“Usually, the themes we see in romance dramas in Malaysia are like forced marriages and corporate romances. I wanted to do a love story that’s set against a different backdrop such as karate,” she says. The show also sports other themes like family relationships and the discovery of a new culture.
“All the characters I created on the show are relatable. People like Rykal who seem like a nobody – it’s as if he’s like the wind – also have feelings. The same with Riana, who comes off as a villain at first, but reaches a point where viewers will have compassion for her because she’s just like the rest of us,” she adds.
Sharnaaz, who plays the nerdy Rykal, admits he felt challenged by the role. “It was difficult. I’ve never been a nerd. I don’t know how to be a nerd.” But Amor thinks the actor has done well, saying: “He can play all kinds of roles. Before this, he has played an effeminate character and a gangster as well. I think he has succeeded in this one too.”
The director continues to gush about budding actress Hanis’ drive to keep pushing herself. “She even told me not to stop giving her direction and advice until she delivers what I want,” the director shares.
Meanwhile, actress Mimi has one of the toughest parts to play as some of her dialogues are in Japanese. “My character speaks quite a bit of Japanese but Shogen helped me a lot. It was hard at first but it got easier as we went along,” the actress says.
Shogen, who actually hails from Okinawa himself, says he treasures the experience acting opposite the Malaysian cast.
“It’s very interesting to work with Sharnaaz, Hanis and Mimi because when we had the time, they taught me about Malay culture and history and I could teach them about Okinawa and Japanese culture,” he shares.